WHAT TO DO IN TIMES OF DISTRESS
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Since childhood, we are frequently told stories of the prophets. These stories are told when we are desperate, when we are hopeless, when we are distressed, and often times even listening to these stories do not change us inside. And they really do not affect us as they should. Why does this happen? It is all due to our lack of understanding and these stories are not really told in the way they should be. We know these stories as historical and unusual events. Well, now I will tell you how the religion Islam builds up the trust through Quran by not only mentioning stories but also by the divine words of the Quran which help us to really trust the One and Only GOD “Allah”. Allah says in the Quran
Say, “In whose hand is the realm of all things — and He protects while none can protect against Him — if you should know?” [23:88]
They will say, “[All belongs] to Allah .” Say, “Then how are you deluded?” [23:89]
These profound verses compel us to trust the ONE in whose hands is control of everything. Yes, the thing about which you are worrying is really in control of Allah. He is the lord of the world. In 88th ayah (or verse in English), Allah says that if you are knowledgeable, then you will believe that Allah controls all things. It is very beautiful and amazing that Allah mentions the response of those people who say “we believe”. However, they do not believe as Allah says in the very next ayah (ayah 89), “Then how are you deluded”? which means, which thing is stopping you from believing that He can remove your all worries? We say that we trust Allah but still we worry about problems, and we fail to realize that He is the actual Doer of all things, and He can handle our issues and problems.
Now a question arises, should we stop working to achieve something? Or are we supposed to sit on the couch and wait for the help of Allah as everything is in His hands? The answer to the question is in the story of Musa (a.s)¹ (Moses). When Musa (a.s) and His people were escaping from the Pharaoh, they were trapped in front of the red sea where He was told by Allah to strike the sea with staff in his hand. Then, the law of nature broke, and the water was divided into two halves. We all know that staff cannot split the oceans yet Musa (a.s) used what was in his hands. Similarly, we also find ourselves in situations where we have to take action, but at the same time, we have to believe in Allah and that He will accept our efforts and will solve the problem as Musa (a.s) trusted Allah while striking the red sea. He did not trust his action but trusted Allah.
What can we do at times when we are unable to take any action? Or we don’t know which action we are supposed to take? Do you remember the story of Yunus (a.s) (Jonah) when he was thrown into the water, and he was gobbled by the Giant fish? What was in the hands of Yunus (a.s) at the time when he was in the stomach of fish and acids in the stomach of fish were eating up Yunus (a.s)? Do you know what He did? He turned to Allah. He called to Allah by this beautiful zikr, “There is no deity except You; exalted, are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.” Due to which Allah saved him. So, sometimes we are stuck in problems, and we don’t know the solution as prophet Yunus (a.s) was completely helpless. At that moment we should turn to Allah and seek His forgiveness and help. Hence, in times of distress, we are supposed to take all possible actions along with trusting Allah. If we are helpless, can’t take action, then we should ask Allah and seek His help through patience, and prayer.
¹ Editor’s Note: The abbreviation “a.s” is often used for the phrase “alayhi salam”, which means “peace be upon him” in English. I personally am not comfortable with this convention because in the Quran God tells us not to make any distinction among those who deliver His messages (see for example verse 3:84), and then He tells us in 40:78 that He has not told us about all of His messengers. From this I understand that I should not use anything after the messengers’ names because that makes a distinction with those he did not name. Others do not have the same understanding, including the author of this wonderful story. We each must make our own decision on this matter and pray that God will accept it from us.
